问答题
Changing one"s diet can be difficult because it requires new food habits and learning about alternative sources of protein and iron. Cultural barriers, such as gender, race, ethnicity, education and where you live are also involved: white men in the Midwest eat considerably more beef than their compatriots on the coasts, and education is inversely proportional to beef and meat consumption. There"s also a perceived lack of pleasure associated with going meatless because many carnivores perceive vegetarian diets as boring. In addition, historical data on rates of people adopting a vegetarian diet have risen from 0.9 percent in 1991 to about 3 percent in the U. S. now, suggesting that actions perceived as involving sacrifices of comfort or pleasure are not adopted widely. Scientists have identified several energy-saving behaviors that share the obstacles of forgoing comfort and pleasure. Line-drying clothing, for instance, results in stiff fabric that can be scratchy on the skin; shorter showers can feel cold and rushed; and setting the thermostat higher in summer can make a person feel too warm.
【正确答案】
【答案解析】改变一个人的饮食结构很难,因为这不仅需要建立新的饮食习惯,还要找到蛋白质和铁元素的替代食物源。不同文化、性别、民族、种族、教育甚至一个人生活的地区同样是改变的障碍:生活在美国中西部的白人对牛肉的消费要比生活在海边的美国人要多得多,受教育程度与牛肉和其他肉类的消费量成反比例。许多肉食主义者认为素食枯燥乏味,因为在他们看来素食是缺少生活乐趣的一种表现。此外,从历史统计数据看,1991年以来美国改吃素食的人口比率仅从0.9%升至当今的3%,这显示人们对涉及牺牲舒适性或乐趣的习惯的改变是缓慢的。科学家们认定以下几种节约能源的行为会涉及个人的舒适性和乐趣:例如,使用晾衣绳会导致衣服的针织纤维变得僵硬,让人瘙痒难受;快速冲凉会让人感觉敷衍了事而且冷风嗖嗖;夏日将空调调高几度会让人感觉酷暑难耐。[解析] 第一句because引导的原因状语从句中requires动词后带两个并列宾语“new food habits and learning about alternative sources of protein and iron”,翻译成汉语可适当使用并列关系的连接词“这不仅需要建立新的饮食习惯,还要找到蛋白质和铁元素的替代食物源”。第三句“There"s also a perceived lack of pleasure associated with going meatless because many carnivores perceive vegetarian diets as boring.”同样是because引导的状语从句,主句的翻译需要使用正反翻译法,按字面正面翻译为“许多肉食主义者认为不吃肉缺少生活乐趣”,采用正反翻译技巧变为“许多肉食主义者认为吃肉是一种生活乐趣”,整句话调整后为“许多肉食主义者认为吃肉是一种生活乐趣,因为在他们看来素食是那么的枯燥乏味”。不能说哪种翻译不对,只能比较哪个更好、更简洁。下一句“..., suggesting that actions perceived as involving sacrifices of comfort or pleasure are not adopted widely.”分词suggesting引导的宾语从句作整个句子的补语,翻译为“这显示人们对涉及牺牲舒适性或乐趣的习惯的改变是缓慢的”。整个句子中用到了增译、减译、引申和结构调整等多种技巧,如perceived“被视为”省略和adopted“被采取”引申为“……的改变”,比较“这显示被视为涉及牺牲舒适性或乐趣的行为未被广泛采用”。最后一句,“...for instance, results in stiff fabric that can be scratchy on the skin: shorter showers can feel cold and rushed; and setting the thermostat higher in summer can make a person feel too warm.”翻译为“例如,使用晾衣绳会导致衣服的针织纤维变得僵硬让人瘙痒难受;快速冲凉会让人感觉敷衍了事而且冷风嗖嗖;夏日将空调调高几度会让人感觉酷暑难耐”。三排比句中都用到“让人……”句式,是从增强语气和表达效果上考虑。